Hybrid Operations Lead: Data-Driven & Process Excellence

National Restaurant Association; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) matching

Corporate discounts

Tuition assistance

Career development programs

Job summary

The National Restaurant Association, based in Washington, DC, is seeking a Sr. Operations Coordinator to support connected operations of the Association and Educational Foundation.

Reporting to the VP, Operations, you will manage assignments end-to-end, develop materials for meetings, monitor metrics, and support priority initiatives. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in operations, project coordination, or account management, with strong MS Office and AI tool usage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in operations, project coordination, account management, or a similar role.
• Strong generalist mindset, with the flexibility to move between different types of work, projects, and priorities.
• Self-starter who can take direction, ask thoughtful questions, and work independently once expectations are clear.
• Comfortable working through ambiguity, gathering information, and figuring out practical next steps.
• Ability to think beyond logistics and help clarify the purpose of a meeting, including the goal, decision needed, desired outcome, and materials required.
• Strong data skills, including tracking metrics against goals, working in spreadsheets, pulling information from multiple systems, identifying inconsistencies, and turning data into clear visuals or summaries.
• Active user of AI tools to research, summarize information, improve efficiency, and support faster, better work.
• Natural ability to simplify complexity, improve processes, and create repeatable systems that make work easier for others.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or evolving information.
• Excellent proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, with the ability to quickly learn additional tools and systems as needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and professionally.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, follow-through, and ability to manage multiple priorities at the same time.
• Comfortable managing recurring operational processes, including contact lists, distribution lists, meeting cadences, reporting rhythms, and related administrative workflows.
• Ability to travel; anticpate 1-2 times per year.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted partner to operations leadership, helping move priorities forward across the organization.
• Manage assignments from start to finish, including defining the work, gathering needed information, coordinating next steps, and delivering high-quality results with minimal oversight.
• Support internal and external meetings by clarifying the purpose, desired outcome, problem to solve, and decisions needed; prepare the data, materials, and presentations required to support productive discussion.
• Track and visualize progress against scorecard goals and department dashboards, including gathering data from multiple systems and stakeholders, reconciling information, and flagging data quality issues.
• Maintain State Restaurant Association contact lists, distribution lists, and inquiry directories; coordinate recurring meeting cadences and reporting rhythms; and support logistics and briefing materials.
• Conduct independent research using AI tools and other sources, quickly turning information into clear summaries, insights, and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to simplify work, improve processes, and build repeatable systems that help the team operate more efficiently.
• Create clean, professional deliverables using PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Partner closely with Facilities, Membership, Human Resources, and other teams in a role that supports work across the organization.
• Coordinate across departments, serving as a connective point to keep initiatives moving, aligned, and on track.
• Stay organized across multiple priorities, follow through reliably, and help ensure work is completed accurately and on time.

Job description

The National Restaurant Association, based in Washington, DC, is seeking a Sr. Operations Coordinator to support connected operations of the Association and Educational Foundation.

Reporting to the VP, Operations, you will manage assignments end-to-end, develop materials for meetings, monitor metrics, and support priority initiatives. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in operations, project coordination, or account management, with strong MS Office and AI tool usage.